This week we turn our attention to two high-profile sequels, as the James Cameron-endorsed “Terminator: Genisys” lit up cinema screens this past week, while Cal was alone for “Magic Mike XXL,” the follow-up to the 2012 stripper hit we famously (if rather predictably) disagreed on. Parallel dimensions are brought out in the Justin Long-Emmy Rossum romance “Comet,” which confused Cal and made a rather negative impression on Pete’s screening partner, plus there’s news from the on-going East End Film Festival. Elsewhere, Dustin Hoffman’s been a bit outspoken, we take some time out to celebrate a milestone for Lena Endre, and Jai Courtney’s abs are under the microscope.

Pete’s antics in Ibiza are over, so the podcast returns from a fortnightly break, bringing with it five films, and some extremely early news of Foreign Language Oscar submissions. The French are represented well this week, led off by Agnes Jaoui’s fairytale-inspired “Under the Rainbow” and followed up by Michel Gondry’s eccentric “Mood Indigo,” but did the fantasy aspects of both films draw us in or have us running for the hills? Life is far from a fairytale in Abel Ferrara’s political drama “Welcome to New York,” in which we see far too much of Gerard Depardieu, while the presence of a famous cinematic villain of the past in gay drama “Lilting” ensures that it isn’t just The Ben Whishaw Show. All that, plus we finally catch up with Marvel’s mega financial and critical hit “Guardians of the Galaxy,” with all eyes on one guy in particular. Elsewhere, Pete dares to liken a Larry Olivier film to the Twilight series, we discuss how Colin Firth’s eagerness towards a certain leading lady was wholly inappropriate in the context, and one of the reviews inexplicably leads us to reminisce about the days of Craig David and S Club 7. No, really.

The Week’s News:

Directors rally around the cause of film

First Foreign Language Oscar submissions of the year: Turkey, Poland, and Hungary announce their picks!

[3:20 – 12:40]

Reviews of:

Guardians of the Galaxy

Lilting

Under the Rainbow

Mood Indigo

[21:40 – 58:40]

Closing Segment: Discussing Abel Ferrara’s French political drama “Welcome to New York,” and discussing films that are thinly-veiled assaults on public figures!

This week starts out sporty, as we look ahead to next month’s World Cup, and celebrate the release of new underdog football film “Next Goal Wins” by revealing our favourite documentaries about sports. After that, we get onto the week’s other releases, which include the amusingly re-titled comedy “Bad Neighbours” and Hayao Miyazaki’s period swansong “The Wind Rises,” which prompts a discussion of the greatest biopics ever made, and a face-off between “The Pianist” and “Schindler’s List”. With only three films, we have plenty of time to anticipate next week’s double-dose of Elizabeth Olsen, and venture on a host of digressions, discussing the quality of the cinema of 2004, and what exactly constitutes a “performance piece.” Elsewhere, Pete uncorks a rather vicious burn on Hailee Steinfeld, Zac Efron makes Cal feel guilty and shallow, and there’s a proposed overhaul of the segments which may see Emma and Melvil banished from the podcast. Scandal!